Joist and girder construction



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Edward A. Heim Inventor v Nov. 2351948. E. A. HEIM JoIsT memnsm'consrnucno 2 Sheets-Shen 2 mea m. 2e. 1947 Fig. 2.

Invehtor Edward A. Heim I6" By Patented Nev. z3, 194s UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE Jors'r AND Gianna coNs'rm'rc'rloNl Edward A. Heim, Lisbon, om@ l Application February ze, 1947, serial No. '130,943

'z claims. (o1. iss-37) This invention relates generally to structural members used in buildings requiring members adapted to withstand variously applied stresses and to receive and hold nails driven -tlrereinto for the`.purpose of attaching thereto sheeting, rock lath or other floor ceiling or wall structure, this member being envisaged as constructed of metal, such as pressed steel, and having means whereby nails or similar fastening devices driven through the attached members into the members which form the subject matter of this invention are turned or clinched.

It is an object of this invention to provide a Joist or girder construction in which two spaced substantially flat surfaces are provided for the support of the member and the-structure to be secured thereto.

It is another object of this inventionto provide a structural element which will be the whole equivalent of a wooden member of joist, girder or studding character, with regard to the ability thereof to receive and hold fastening nails whereby wall, or ceiling and floor covering materials such asl laths, sheeting, or other metal or wood building material of this general character may be secured, these improved structural elements also providing the full equivalent of a wooden beam or joist as regards rigidity and load-carrying strength, all without unduly great weight or other disadvantageous features.

Another object of this invention is to provide a device of this character in which two or more spaced nail receiving means are provided along the full length of the structural member.

And a last object to be specifically mentioned is to provide a device of this character which is relatively inexpensive and practicable to manufacture, simple and convenient to use, and which will give generally emcient and durable service.

It is'well understood that devices have been developed and used wherein metal structural elements have been adapted to receive nails and to bend a portion of the same in a manner somewhat analogous to the manner in which the present invention receives and `clinches 'the nails driven thereinto. A basic patent for such structure lis therefore not sought. but what is sought to be protected by Letters Patent includes the improvements and reiinements in .such structural' elements, whereby the same are made more adaptable for generally carrying out the functions required thereofvin the general practice of the building trade. As illustrative of such improvements, it may be noted that this present invention is adapted for the securement of the ends of two other structural elements, such as lath or boards, in abutting relation on a single Joist, as may be better understood if reference is had to Figure l of the drawings. Furthermore. according to the "present invention, the nails may be turned' or clinched to any desired degree, rather than being merely slightly bent, as provided for in other devices developed for the same general purpose as this invention.

With the above ob'jects definitely in view, this invention resides incertain novel features ,of construction, combination and arrangement of parts and Vportions as will be hereinafter described in detail and particularly set forth in the appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying 1, but before the elements are welded together;

modified form of this invention shown in Figure 6.

Similar characters of reference designate similar or identical parts and portions throughout the specification and throughout the several views of the drawings.

Referring now to these drawings-in detail, and having reference particularly to Figures 1, 3, 4 and 5, it will be noted that this structural member is comprised of two similar channel members, each having a web portion III, a right angularly disposed ilange portion l2 and an irregularly shaped flange portion or side generally indicated by the numeral I4. The side ilange I 2 is split as at I6, if desired, and the side flange ll is com prised of a right angulariy bent portion Il, an

, .j 3 i integral um portion n disposed psrsuel to the web portion ",an inwardly arced portion 22. a

fiat portion 24 which is essentially a continuation of the portion 20and a right angular bent outer or lip ilange It. i

A simple channel member, co-extensive .with the main portion of the structural member and comprising a web portion 28 and two similar 1 outer portions or side flanges 3l, is secured, prefverably by arc welding, within Ithe two similar with a portion of lath 34, secured by said nail to' the improved structural member, and it will be noted that the point of the nail has been turned by the arcuate portion 22 and on being come pletely inserted, this point 38 is turned back or.

clinched against retraction thereof from the structural member.

Referring now to the modified form of this invention illustrated in Figure 2, it will be noted that provision is herein made for securement of the structural member at both ends thereof to other structure, in a manner identical with the manner in which one end of the structural mem ber is secured to other structure' as illustratedl in Figures 1 and 5.1 This modification of the invention is particularly useful when the structural member is to beused as a joist or studding as in,

wall structure where sheathing or lath is required to be secured to two sides of the studding.

In the modification of this `invention illustrated in Figures 6 and "I, it will be noted that as at I4. This member 42 will ordinarily beA spot welded to the web I and the portion 48 thereof will be spaced a short distance from the 4 vit is desired to include in the scope of this invention the construction, combination and arrangement of parts and portions substantially as set forth in the appended claims.

What is claimed as new and desired to be secured by Letters Patent is:

1. A structural member adapted to withstand variously applied stresses vand to receive and to clinch nails driven thereinto, comprising channel members with portions of the web portions thereof secured together in back-to-back rela-l -tion and with outer portions of the web portions in spaced'relation, the corresponding sides of said channel members being in co-planar relation, and an elongated nail-guiding .member secured to lthe channel members between and spaced from said outer portions, said guide memlip flange 40, to allow insertion of nails between these two portions l0 and 46. The right angular bend at 48 will preferably be of arcuate rather than sharp character, so that a nail 50 vdrivceni through a lath 52 will have the point 54 thereof turned or clinched, as illustrated in Figure 7.

The operation of this invention will be clear from a consideration of the foregoing descriptionv of the mechanical details thereof, taken in connection with the drawings and with the above recitation of the objects sought to be achievedI by this invention and further description is, therefore, deemed unnecessary. Though there have been shown three embodiments of this invention, this application is not limited to these particular embodiments, but

ber being disposed longitudinally of said channel members and comprising a channel member having flanges substantially parallel to said outer portions, and said outer portions having longitudinally extending arcuate portions adjacent the inner edges of the nail-guiding member, the said flanges terminating short of the arcuate portions.

2. A structural member adapted to withstand variously applied stresses and to receive and to clinch nails driven thereinto, comprising channel members with portions of the web portions thereof ysecured together in back-to-back relation and with outer portions of the web portions in spaced relation, the corresponding sides `of said channel members being in co-planary relation, and an elongated nail-guiding member secured to the channel members between and spaced from said outerportions, said guide member being disposed longitudinally of said channel members and comprising a channel member having flanges substantially parallel to said outer portions, and said outerportions having longitudinally extending arcuate portions adjacent the inner edgesof the nail-guiding member comprising inwardly disposed integral beads, the said flanges terminating short of the arcuate portions, the web portion of said nail guiding channelv member having its outer surface co-planar with the outer surfaces o'f the side portions of the first mentioned channel members adjacent said web portions in spaced relation.

- EDWARD A. HEIM.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

2,167,835 l Grellllch Aug. 1, 1939 

